Page 104 of Johnathan

The line sat silent for what seemed like an eternity.

“Baby, are you?”

“No,” she whispered.

“Do you need me to come home?”

“Please.”

John started his vehicle and pulled out of the parking spot he was sitting in.

“I’m about thirty minutes away. Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. I g-got a weird phone call.”

“Who was it from?”

“I don’t know. No one said anything at first but then this voice…”

The way her voice shook had him pressing harder on the accelerator.

“What, baby?”

“He told me he would see me soon. I’m not sure what’s going on. I don’t know if someone is outside the house, or inside… I don’t know.”

Shit. John turned his emergency lights on, trying to think of a plan to make sure she and Katy were safe.

“Are you with Katy?”

“Y-Yes. I fell asleep on the couch, but I ran right to her room and locked the door. She’s still asleep, that’s why I’m whispering. I should have gone to our room first. I should have gotten the gun. I’m so stupid, John. What if someone tries to come in? I don’t have a way to protect Katy.”

“Listen, I don’t want to hang up the phone, but I need to, okay? I’m going to call one of the deputies in Bell Ridge to come over to you.”

“No. Don’t bother someone else. What if this is nothing and I’m just being insane?”

His chest rumbled with displeasure at hearing her say something so negative about herself.

“Stop, Abby. You aren’t being crazy. You’re alone with Katy and your gut is telling you something is wrong. I won’t send a deputy, but I’m going to call Jackson and have him come over to check things out. He can be there in five minutes.”

“I-I’m sure I overreacted. I just needed to hear your voice.”

“Nothing is more important to me than you and Katy and making sure you are safe. Even if I go eighty, I can’t get to you right now. So I’m going to call him, and he’ll be over.”

The phone line was silent for what felt like an eternity.

“Baby?”

“Okay.”

Who knew one simple word could make the pressure in his chest fade to a manageable level.

“Everything’s going to be okay. Just stay in the room until you hear Jackson. He’s got his own key, so he’ll come in and call out to you, okay?”

“Yes. I love you, John.”

“I love you too, baby. I’ll see you soon.”

Fuck. He ended the call with Abby and immediately dialed his brother’s number.

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